Lottery News

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) is celebrating its Golden Anniversary today, marking 50 years from its first day of lottery sales. In recognition of the CLC’s 50th Anniversary, Governor Ned Lamont has proclaimed today “Connecticut Lottery Day” in Connecticut. The CLC will continue to celebrate its anniversary throughout the year with a slate of commemorative games, promotions, marketing campaigns, and special events to highlight “50 Years of Winning.”

“Our Golden Anniversary milestone is something we’re extremely pleased to celebrate, because the Lottery has benefitted everyone in Connecticut through the billions returned to the General Fund,” said Greg Smith, President & CEO, Connecticut Lottery Corporation. “We thank the founders of the Connecticut Lottery for getting us off the ground in 1972, and also extend our gratitude to all those, past and present, who have made the Connecticut Lottery what it is today. Because of them, we are well-positioned to continue our mission of responsibly generating revenue for the state, and look to grow our Lottery and sports betting businesses.”

The Connecticut Lottery began its slate of anniversary games this week, with its first-ever $20 price-point Fast Play game “50 Anniversary GOLD,” which has a set top prize of $200,000. A 50th Anniversary scratch ticket family consisting of $1, $2, $5 and $10 games will also be released in the coming weeks.

50th Anniversary Logo

For this year only, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation will use a special edition 50th Anniversary logo. This logo harkens back to the CLC’s history and its original “Moneytree” logo, while incorporating the Lottery’s current font in rich gold tones on a black background. The 50th Anniversary logo will be used throughout the year across the Lottery’s games and marketing materials.

Connecticut Lottery Corporation Milestones

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation began ticket sales on February 15, 1972, and since then, has contributed more than $10 billion to the state’s general fund. In October 2021, the CLC added online and retail sports betting to its product offerings, through the PlaySugarHouse sportsbook. The Connecticut Lottery now has nine retail sportsbook locations in the state, with an additional six set to open in the future.

In 2022, the Connecticut Lottery will add online draw game sales (iLottery) to its portfolio, the proceeds of which will go on to fund the state’s debt-free college program. The CLC is currently on track this fiscal year to reach $11 billion returned to the state since the Lottery’s inception.

Over the course of 50 years, the Connecticut Lottery has contributed more than $40 million towards funding problem gambling prevention and treatment services, in addition to in-kind PSA campaigns to support the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling’s (CCPG) efforts around problem gambling awareness. The CLC partners directly with DMHAS and CCPG to employ responsible gambling best practices in all of its product offerings and marketing campaigns and will this year contribute $3.3 million directly to the state’s Chronic Gamblers Fund, overseen by DMHAS.

Other significant moments in Connecticut Lottery history include:

• June 1971:  To generate revenue for the state, Governor Thomas J. Meskill signs Public Act No. 865 to create the Connecticut State Lottery. In September, a bi-partisan team of commissioners is selected.
• February 15, 1972 – The Connecticut Lottery begins its first ticket sales at 3,000 retailer locations state wide, offering one game called “The Lottery.” Tickets cost 50 cents, each. Drawings are held weekly with a top prize of $5,000.  Connecticut’s lottery is the fourth state lottery in the nation.
• September 9, 1975:  “Instant Match,” the first scratch game in CT, goes on sale. Top prize is $10,000. Proceeds from this game are temporarily earmarked by the legislature to support education services in the state.
• October 29, 1975 – Louise Torvinen, one of 12 finalists for the big prize, becomes the state’s first lottery millionaire, via an Instant Match 2nd chance drawing.
• November 7, 1983 – As an enhancement to the existing lottery system, “Lotto” is born.  For just $1 per play, players choose 6 numbers for their chance at winning a minimum jackpot prize of $1 million.
• June 30, 1983 – Lottery contributions to state's General Fund reach $1 billion.
• November 1995 – Connecticut joins “Powerball,” a multi-state lottery game with a minimum jackpot of $5 million.
• July 1, 1996 – The Connecticut State Lottery becomes a quasi-public agency named the Connecticut Lottery Corporation.
• March 29, 2009 – “Lucky-4-Life” drawing game begins, with a top prize of up to $2,000 a week for life.
• November 2, 2011 – The largest prize in CT Lottery history – a $254.2 million Powerball jackpot – is claimed by the Putnam Avenue Family Trust.
• March 2012 – Six New England states join together to launch a regional version of the Connecticut draw game, “Lucky for Life®.” The regional game offers a top prize of $7,000 per week for life.
• April 2016 – The CLC introduces KENO, “ON THE SPOT FUN®” with a chance to win every four minutes, 7 days a week.
• October 2, 2019 – The Connecticut Lottery crossed the $10 billion threshold for profits returned to the CT General Fund since the Lottery’s inception in 1972.
• November 1, 2019 – Connecticut's "Lotto!" Jackpot of $25.9 Million, the third-highest jackpot in the game's history is won.
• May 27, 2021 – Governor Ned Lamont signs legislation legalizing online and retail sports wagering in Connecticut, authorizing the Connecticut Lottery to operate online sports wagering and up to 15 retail sports betting locations.
• June 30, 2021 – Despite a challenging year following statewide, COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns, the Connecticut Lottery sees its best year ever, returning $418 million to the state’s General Fund.
• October, 2021 – The Connecticut Lottery Corporation begins offering online sports betting via its PlaySugarHouse sportsbook, in partnership with Rush Street Interactive (RSI). The CLC also launches its retail PlaySugarHouse sportsbook business, with its first location at Sports Haven in New Haven.